Each day last week we took some time to explore an organizational strategy. We discussed how, if we have an area to work and are set up with all our resources ready to go, things will go more smoothly. We set goals to get things done EACH day rather than cramming it all in at the end of the week, and we celebrated how many achieved that goal last week. Keep it up, TEAM!
TEAM 4th mathematicians explored equivalent fractions last week. We can create an equivalent fraction by multiplying or dividing our numerator and denominator by a common factor. It’s been exciting to consider WHY this “trick” works each time, both visually and by using the identity property. The week ended with some equivalent fraction races and our fraction fluency is definitely improving! This week we’ll keep building our muscles by comparing fractions. It’s so important to keep using the fraction tools in our notebook and drawing fractions, so that’s one of our strategies for comparing. We also use logical reasoning, which requires us to have a deep conceptual understanding of fractions. Finally, we know that cross multiplication will help us to find the greater/lesser fraction every time and is an efficient strategy. Many of our mathematicians are considering WHY this “trick” works and we’re so excited to learn with students who don’t just want to memorize a trick but seek to understand the math behind the magic of cross multiplication. Writers have brainstormed, outlined, and reflected on their deeper understanding of expository writing. Our small groups are our community of writers. We celebrate, suggest, and support one another! The more we are sharing our goals and pieces, the more we realize how our strengths and areas to grow as writers aren’t the same...we can help each other! This week they will draft and revise. BIG WORK! In addition, writers will be annotating sentences for grammar. They will have to determine which is the accurate sentence -- and tell why -- in addition to telling why the other sentences are inaccurate. Looking carefully will be the challenge. We’re starting our novel, A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park. We could tell you about it, but we KNOW the kids will be telling you. Readers are going to deepen their understanding of not only summary, annotations, inference and author’s purpose. They are going to learn about the world. Stay tuned. Historians will learn about the Indigenous people of Texas this week. They will bring forward their knowledge of regions and natural resources to examine how that affected how people lived and operated. They will compare various tribes in Texas, as well as apply their learning to how they see that affecting their lives today. We want to remind you that you are always able to see all content in BLEND. Teacher lesson videos, assignments, student’s submissions, feedback, and resources are available to you.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
May 2021
Categories |